The Free Dining Myth

[Brian Noble]

So, "Disney Math" free, not "never have to pay for it" free.

 

[ShanPooh]

There is no way this can include airfare and if so, WHAT carrier?!!! Our airfare for 4 of us is around 1100.00 from Columbus to Orlando.

OMG! What carrier do you use?

Last year we got a DING! offer through Southwest and paid $39 (+ taxes, etc.) each way. It came to just under $325 for the four of us. Mind you, that was an EXCEPTIONAL deal!
Our average has been around $75 each way - $39 being the low and $99 being the high. We've flown out of Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Pittsburgh, and Columbus using US Air, Southwest, and AirTran.
I'm going to be really, really sad if we have to shell out $99 each way for our trip this September! But with the price of jet fuel having almost doubled since this time last year, who knows?

 

[DaParkers]

My dues are paid for the full use year. This is not the only trip I am making on those dues. This use year I will have 9 separate DVC stays (one of those at Disneyland). I am not writing a check or charging anything specifically at the time of any of my DVC trips except for food expenses -will not receive a bill either right before or right after the stay for the cost of the room or the ticket as the room is already paid for and would be paid for no matter what kind of package discount came out. DDE costs $60 for a year's membership for AP holders, quite easy to make up and much better than purchasing the dining plan for 8 separate stays. It is completely not worth it for me to book a package for just myself, or myself and a friend, including room and tickets just to get the free dining, when I have a room and tickets already paid for and I don't have to pay all that much for dining (I pay only for myself). Most posters are not in this situation, they have a family to provide for, which usually means coughing up accommodations, ticket and food for at least three people. But there seems to be some incredulity on this thread regarding how ANYONE could choose to pass up the free dining offer. And if you've already paid for DVC, there's no way that booking a package to get the free dining plan is a better offer (unless you have several people on your reservation.) If you want it just to have it, fine, but I can't imagine how it's a deal.

Ok. I never said that you were making a bad choice. Everyone's situation is different. Whatever works for you is fine. As long as you're happy. That's what great about WDW. People come from different places, backgrounds, economic status, etc... all for the same reason. The Magic!

 

[nomen]

Yes, it includes airfare. We are flying Delta for $260 per person ($780 total for 3 adults) roundtrip. The difference is that we only needed 2 days of parks tickets, instead of 6, for each adult as we have some left over non-expiring to use up.

Hi eeyoregon

I'm curious about how you came up with such an excellent deal. With the $1580 total price and the $780 airfare, it leaves $800 for the 7 nights and the 3 x 2-day tickets.

The cheapest I've been able to price that hotel/ticket for 3 adults combo is around $1200. Did you apply any other promotion? what dates are you traveling?

Thanks for the info, looking to save some more money

 

[mobster75]

Hi Nomen,

My wife and I are heading down to WDW on 8/30 from Boston with Delta for $248/person (includes all fees/taxes) direct. It's the cheapest airfare I've ever had to Florida.

 

[nomen]

Thanks for your reply mobster, but I wasn't asking eeyoregon about the airfaire, but the hotel.

A few posts back he said his total price was $1580, including the airfare of $780. That implies the cost for his 7 nights and 2-day tickets for 3 adults came up to $800, and I can't seem to make that happen for me.

 

[Crisgw]

OMG! What carrier do you use?

Last year we got a DING! offer through Southwest and paid $39 (+ taxes, etc.) each way. It came to just under $325 for the four of us. Mind you, that was an EXCEPTIONAL deal!
Our average has been around $75 each way - $39 being the low and $99 being the high. We've flown out of Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Pittsburgh, and Columbus using US Air, Southwest, and AirTran.
I'm going to be really, really sad if we have to shell out $99 each way for our trip this September! But with the price of jet fuel having almost doubled since this time last year, who knows?

I'll tell you, with fuel prices as high as they are, ticket prices are def. going to go up...so frustrating!

 

[eeyoregon]

Hi eeyoregon

I'm curious about how you came up with such an excellent deal. With the $1580 total price and the $780 airfare, it leaves $800 for the 7 nights and the 3 x 2-day tickets.

The cheapest I've been able to price that hotel/ticket for 3 adults combo is around $1200. Did you apply any other promotion? what dates are you traveling?

Thanks for the info, looking to save some more money

You are right. My previous post was a typo: 6 nights not 7 = $786.27for the package plus airfare $780 = $1,566.00

 

[CharacterFan]

This will be my 3rd year with "Free Dining" and I will say even though I'm paying rack rate for my room, and ticket. I'm fine. I always want to eat at places that I can't bring myself to pay out of pocket for. This way I get to eat at them. They taste so good when it's "free" execpt Le Cellier (sp) I didn't like that.

As an AP holder. I could get a room discount, but my AP's up for renewal when I'm there so I'm using my 1-day ticket to upgrade. With an AP discount on the room I'd be saving about $100. I'm saving about $400 with "Free Dining" after taking out what I'll pay in tips. That's a difference of $300. I'm also a DDE card holder, but with the tip now being added, it doesn't help much anymore.

 

[eeyoregon]

Well I decided to wait and see if airfare would go down at all (call me crazy!). Delta dropped our fare from Oregon from $260 per person to $240 per person = $60 savings!! I booked it!!

I also got a wild hair and decided to upgrade to the Deluxe Dining today. Last year we had to pay quite a bit out of pocket because the teen boys were always hungry and 1 snack credit didn't cut it.

They're another year older now and can eat even more. My 15 yr old is 6 feet 2 but only weighs 140...wouldn't that be nice!!! Hollow leg I guess !

It's been fun making all of our ADR's!!